Bridging borders in Southeast Asia: the politics of HIV prevention for women.

Participants in a workshop on "Women Family and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Prevention" held in Chiang Mai Thailand in July 1995 developed a cross-border strategy for stemming the spread of the epidemic across Southeast Asia. Regional economic growth new trade initiatives and growing openness between countries are facilitating increased population movement among the neighboring countries of Thailand Laos Cambodia Viet Nam and Chinas Yunnan Province. Workshop participants representing all of these countries agreed that AIDS prevention projects for Southeast Asian women work best in family and community settings. Although representatives from neighboring countries were impressed with Thailands programs created for or initiated by commercial sex workers they were pessimistic about the potential for replication in settings where prostitution is outlawed. Also remarkable to participants was the collective strength of Thai AIDS victims who have implemented their own support strategies. Policy advocacy including building intergovernmental relationships that foster collaboration was considered an essential step to slowing the AIDS epidemic in the region. Creation of a health care workers network within and between countries and formation of cross-border committees were also proposed.